Maple Memory Box

Good work. (Itself now I try to do something similar)

Excellent

-- Vince

Beautiful combination of woods.

-- Grant, Tryon, NC

Really nice job. Do you use any particular jig for your joints?

Thanks;

Charlie, Belton, Mo

Beautiful work, can you share how you do the signature and date stamp? Thanks.

-- Jim

Nice design. The #3 Maple looks fine. I like the wood veneer has some nice figure. Where did you get the hinges? They look like a nice big step up from the cheap Ace Hardware hinges I get, but not the $25.00 price of others.
Robert

-- Robert, so much inspiration here, and so little time!

Hi Everyone Thanks for your nice comments and questions, to answer- Charlie, thanks for asking, I do use a jig for box joints, I have a store bought aluminum jig for dove tail and box joints, it works well for dove tail joints which I think the only way to do them is one at a time, but for box joints, there is a way to do a number at a time. This site gives a basic explanation. http://www.newwoodworker.com/bxjntjig.html You will probably have to look around and find the right jig for your set up, I use the router to cut mine. Using 4 pieces to my jig, not counting clamps. 2 flat boards used to clamp the fence/positioning board between them(6X24X3/4”-mdf or absolute flat plywood)one flat board needs a one inch hole cut at the center on the edge , a fence/positioning board(exactly the thickness as the cutting bit and it’s width being, when it is set on it’s side between the two flat boards, it protrudes above by just shy of the depth of the cut, 4th the spacing board, which is about 3X12X3/4”and is used to space the second series of cuts,(the first being the front and back boards of the box, the second being the sides) The spacing board needs a dado cut in it, set the fence between the flat boards and clamp them on each side, then clamp the whole set up to the router table, adjust the fence to make a cut exactly the width of the bit from the edge of the spacing board, run the spacing board against the fence, and make the cut, this gives an exact distance equal to the width of the bit, when making the cut for the sides, set the spacing board over the fence/positioning board creating a fence to use for the second cuts. Now you can cut 20 boards at a time, make sure they are all perfectly the same size, them clamp them all together and make all your cuts, the block of box fronts and backs makes for a sturdy clean cut, really the first cut of the series is the only one that You have to make sure of a perfect cut, the rest are guided by the positioning fence, and away you go. Sorry for the long winded explanation, I don’t know what site I found some of this stuff on, my system is a combination of several ideas, there is probably a better way, but, usually better means a lot of money, which I don’t have.

Jim the logo stamp I made by drawing it first, then taking a picture of it using a tripod, then loading it on the computer on software that enables you to clean up the edges, then printed the result, used free hand to clean up and alter the image as wanted, then repeated the process on the computer, then just faxed the image to the branding iron site, and they made it for me,I used Brand-first.com- 100 bucks, there are several good branding iron sites

Robert the hinges I got from Paxton Hardware, Po Box 256 Upper Falls, MD 21156, they have a few items that can be used in small box making. They came with flat/straight head solid brass screws, which I don’t like to use, I used solid brass Phillips head. I think they are #4, they are pretty big, I had to cut the ends off of the ones I used for the lid side to accommodate my 3/8th thickness of wood, plus the mortise thins the wood up even more, I have done this with some of the smaller screws as well, I tend to use thin wood for my smaller boxes.

-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing

Nice looking memory box. If that is #3 maple, I need to find some – it looks great. Someone will be very happy to receive this box, I’m sure!

Great job!

Jim

-- A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including his/her life".

Go Bro:—— I love long-winded explanations. I have a few screws loose but learn all the time. – Herb

-- herbc6306

Very well done an amazing box I really like your wood choices

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Thank You Guys for the nice comments, it’s a real motivator, and I appreciate you all taking an interest, this site is a great place to share, thanks Herb for telling me about lj’s

-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing